Lever linkwork apparatus



Sept 25, 192%. 195,1

A; G. MURIDOCH LEVER LINKWORK APPARATUS Fillgd May 3, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Hem. 2% mm,

A LWEJYW A. G. MURDOGH LEVER LINKWORK APPARATUS 3'? Filed May 3, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ALEIKANDJEB; GEMMELL IMITUBDQGI 'Q, OE LOIDIDON, ENGLAND.

LEVER LINKWOEK, APEARAEUS,

Application filed. May S, 1926, Serial No. 1065M, and in Great Britain May Z, 1925.

This invention relates to lever linkworh apod of carrying the invention into effect with paratus and has for its object to provide the parts in one extreme position. means by which a number of interconnected Fig. 8 is a similar view to F3. 7 but with pivoted arms or the like can be caused to turn the parts in the other extreme position.

5 about their pivots to occupy various relative 9 is a plan of Fi 7.

positions and form supports "for suitable ole- In the form of the invention shown in Figs. vices such for example as shop or other blinds, 1 to 6, the apparatus comprises a primary or shipsboats and by which the blinds, boats arm mounted to turn upon a suitable pivot or other devices may be brought into various or the like, means carried by the arm adapted "10 positions when required, for example in the to be rotated by the movements of the arm,

case of shop blinds, into, the open or unrolled and a secondary arm pivoted to the first menpositioiuor into the closed or rolled up posi tioned arm, with gearing between the first tion. and the second arms adapted to be operated lit has for another object to pivot one or by the previously n'lentioned means, to cause more of the interconnected pivoted arms to a the second mentioned arm to be moved with fixed support and to provide driving means respect to the first mentioned; arm. 7 for causing, whenrequired, movement of any Referring more particularly to 1 to one of the arms about its pivot, irrespective 4:, a suitably supported and driven shaft 7 of whether this pivot co-operates with a fixed has mounted thereon a pinion 8 which meshes support or anothe arm or arms. with a toothed quadrant 9 having attached lit has for a "further object the provision of thereto a hollow arm 10. The quadrant 9 is gearing and mechanism or any required deformed or provided with trunnions 11, mounts'cription,for-instance ordinary toothedg ars, ed in bearings 12 in a casing 13 and has a bevel gears, worm and worm wheel gears, bearingr'l t with its axis substantially radial sprocket and chain gears and shafts or any to the quadrant and in axial alignment with desired combination thereof by which the the arm 10, which at the other end carries andriving means is operated from any required other bearing; 15. A shaft 16, is mounted in and convenient position by power or otherthe bearings 14 and 15 and extends freely wise and through any desired pivotal joints through the arm 10. 17 is a bevelled pinion so between the arms and for astill further 013- fixedly mounted. towards one end ofthe shaft ject the location of interconnected gearing; at 16 and extending through a gap in the quadthe' iivotal joints to cause the desired moverant 9 This pinion 17 meshes with abevel led merits of the arms. toothed quadrant 18 fixed to the casing; 13.

lln order that the invention may be better 1 Another bevelled pinion 19 is fixed to, the understood it will now be described with retother end oi the shaft 16 and 20 is a secondary erence to the accompanying drawings in arm pivotally mounted) at 21 to the bearing" which 15 and having; fixed thereto a bevelled toothed :hio's. 1 and 2 are tragnnentary front and wheel 22 concentric with the pivot. The pinside elevations respectively with parts in secion 19 meshes with this wheel and if desired in tion of ointed' arms constructed according; to the nearing may be enclosed in suitable casing one method of carrying the invention into as shown 23, to render the gear weather as effect, the lower part of illig. 2 being taken proof, such casino; it necessary being made in from one side of l and the upper part sections to allow for relative movement of the from the other side. parts. t) Figs. 3 and 4- are diagrammatic side eleva- The action of the mechanism will be readtions otthejomted arms shown in Frogs. 1 and ily understood; assuming the parts to be in 2 in two di'lterent positions to illustrate the the position shown in Fin. 2. by rotatingthe action. pinion in a counteucloclnvise direction the Figs. I) and 6 l are perspective d agrams quadrant 9 Wlll movem a clockwise direction to showing; arms constructed according to F 1 to t as at plied to the lowering: and raising of blinds or shades for use in. connection with time however the bevelled pinion 17 rolls on shop fronts. the fixed bevelled qua rant 18 "ttl rotates the shows in deelevatimi suu rther n'ieth shah; l a. l are rotated he" i d pinion l9 and carry with it the arm 10 for instance to the position shown in. lTllQf. 3. Atthe same .move about the pivot 21. As

which is in mesh with the bevelled wheel 22 and consequently this wheel 22 is caused to the secondary arm is fixed to the wheel 22, this arm 20 is caused to move about the pivot 21 and relatively to thearm 10 so that it comes into the position shown in Fig. 3. By continuing the action the arms 10 and 20 are brought into the position shown in Fig. 4-.

F 5 and 6 show diagrammatically in two positions an application of the form of the invention shown in Fins. l to a for raising and lowering a shop blind; in these figures 24tis the spring roller blind mounted and supported in position in any usual and known manner. The outer end ot the blind is connected in a. desired manner to a frontmember or lath 26 which may be of sti'llened section and the extremities of the member 26 are con nected by readily detachable joints with the outer ends of the secondary arms 20 of two pair of jointed arms constructed as previ-' ously described. lVhen-the blind is rolled up, the secondary arms 20 come at the inner sides of the arms 10 as shown in Fig. l. and when turned completely down the blind oceupies the position shown in Flog. 6. intermedi ate position being shown in Fig. 5. T he positions of the arms shown in Figs. 3 and 4t correspond to the positions shown in Figs. 5 and 6. j

The shaft 7 may be common to both pinions 8 for the mechanism shown in Figs. and 6 and be actuated by hand by a motor or other mechanical means, in oreer to lower or raise the blind as and when required.

In theparticular form of mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the arms 10 are termed hollow with the shafts 16 running therethroupgh, but in some cases the shafts may come on the exterior and be supported in suitable bearings.

In some instances, in the case of small blinds or shades, a single device or apparatus of the kind ust described may be provided attached to the middle of the window frame and to the middle of the transverse rod or lath of the outer edgeof the blind and in this case the arm 10 would point vertically upwards when the blind was rolled up, and turn down to effect unrollingr.

By suitable selection of thevarious gears with relation to one another, the outer end of the secondary arm may be projected and V withdrawn in a desired path, which may be straight or otherwise. the that of a modified cycloid.

The apparatus may be arranged to operate vertically up or down or horizontally to suit particular requirements. 7

In some instances a third pivoted arm nay be provided connected to the secondary arm, and this third arm may be moved with respect to the seeone arm through suitable transn'iit ting mechanism operated by the n'iovement oi? general path being the second arm. For this purpose at the end of the primary arm a suitable gear must be fixed with which a. near carried by the second arm can engage, the said gear transmitting in a similar manner to that already desrribod with regard to the primary arm. movement from the secondary to the third arm. This process n'iigrht be e; .:temlcd to any dwirable number of arms. and the arms may be arranfled to move in any desired directions relatively to one another and not necessarily in the same plane or in planes parallel to one another.

As a modification of the constriu-tion first described, the pinion on the driving; sha ft in addition to gearing with the toothed quadrant might g ar with a wheel rotating about a fixed pivotal axis. which wheel in turn meshes with a toothed wheel freely rotatable upon the pivotal axis ot the prin'iary arm. This latter wheel would be turnishcd with bevel gearing; or its equivalent meshing with 'or1o spending bevel earing or its equivalent on the shatt extending up the arm.

As a further alternative. the drivim. spindle might be provided with a sprocket wheel co-operatin g by means ot a chain with another sprocket wheel mounted upon a spindle havimr another gear wheel thereon me hing with a gear wheel on the pivot oi the arm and this {1621' wheel has connected therewith another sproclzet wheel co-operaiing by means of a chain with another sprocket wheel on the pivot between the primarv and serond ary arms the proportions ol the wheels being chosen to give desired movements In the form ot the invention shown Figs.

m 7. 8 and 9. the apparatus comprises lo glc links, the extremity of one arm of which is adapted to move about a fixed :1 xis and having means at the elbow or p voted joint between the arms o l the toggle for ca using the said toggle to be closed or opened. that is for the arms to lie beside ach other or (or the outer arm to move a desired angular extent from the arm turning on the fixed axis. The outer end of the outer arm is in pivotal engagement with another pivoted arm previously termed the primary arm at or towards the tree extremity of this other arm. The pivotal axis of this primary arm is fixed and comes at a desired distance trom the fixed As a result when the axis of the toggle arm.

toggle is in the closed position and the means for causing the arms of the toggle to open a re operated then the connection o l the free end of the toggle with the primary arm causes the primary arm to he moved on its pivot. Similarly when the toggle is caused to close. then the primary arm is given a reverse movement. The primary arm may carry a secondary arm in pivotal relation with the tree end thereof and preferably on the same pivot al axis as the free end of the toggle. which secondary arm caused to move on its pivot when the pri-- Ill) end of the outer toggle arm 83 which is pivoted to the primary arm 39 has been moved 7 from its original position carrying with it .describee.

may be the axis of movement at the primary arm which moves about its pivot 38 and a final position is reached where the primary arm is raised say through an angle of about to and the toggle forms a stay or strut thereto, see Fig. 7.

The movement of the worm wheel 47 also efifects themovementof the secondary arm t8 which is fixed thereto and consequently turns therewith and at the end of the opening action the secondary arm 48 hasbeen turned through about 180 and forms a continuation of the primary arm 39; the gearing and dimensions of the parts are so chosen that the toggle reaches the end of its movement at the same time as the secondary arm.

The blind lath or beam 4-9 as before ex plained has a similar linlrwork at each side and these may bedriven simultaneously by the same driving shaft or/and by the same motive power so that each mechanism opens or closes simultaneously and in the same phase, Fig. '9. The blind lath or beam 49 is then drawn down from both ends evenly, bringing the blind with it, the blind being drawn from oil the usual spring roller which is housed in the usual compartment at the top of the window or taeia (not shown on the drawing).

In the case of very heavy blinds in place of a toggle stay coming to one side only of the primary arm a toggle stay with associated sprocket Wheels and chains could come on each side of the primary arm.

.lVhere an electric motor or motors are used to effect the lowering and raising of one or more shop blinds fitted with apparatus for transmitting motion and linkwork according tothe invention these may be con trolled by any form of switch which may be a time switch and/or a switch operated by changes in the intensity of light. By this latter. the blinds would be drawn out or lowered automatically when the light was too bright, for instance when the sun shone on a window and again raised when the light became less intense for instance at sunset.

Although toggle and other arms have been formed from two parallel strips they may be of other construction. for example of cl'iannel, box, or hollow cylindrical sec tion, and the hollow interior may serve for the passage of shafts.

here required the arms, gearing or other parts may be cased in, the casings permitting the necessary movements and acting as protectors.

In cases where the movement of the primary arm around its centre is utilized to transmit movement to the secondary arm this efi eeted by a fixed toothed quadrant bevel or'otlierwise or the like concentric with th e pri m a a rm 'tance from the pivot thereot,

with which quadrant a gear, bevel or otherwise engages the said gear transn'iitting its movements oy a shaft or otherwise to other gearing between the primary and secondary arms for the purpose.

The gearing for operating the toggle arms may be driven in any other suitable. manner for example from a driving shaft at the fixed axis around which the primary arm moves or the fixed axis around which one arm of the toggle moves, the movements of the shalt being transmitted through any suitable mechanism and geari preferably reduction gearing. which ma include. ordinary toothed IL rs, bevel gears. shafts. worm and worm wheel gears. sprocket wheels and chains. In some cases a prime mover. such as an electric motor, may be carried l any of the arms.

to primary, secondary or otherwise and by suitable gearing. preferably including a s previously described to cfilect the. operation. The driving means may have combined therewith means for stopping the drive. when extreme positions are reached and also automatic reversing means l'or reversing the drive upon the next operation.

Another usetul application ol the apparatus previously described is to take the place of the davits usually employed on board ship for lowering and raising lifeboats, in which .ZRO two of the apparatus will of course be euiployed and they might be designed either to swing out and lower the boat, or simply to swing it out, the lowering being partly or entirely eilected by independent means.

Another useful tllQPllPillXlOl'l oi the inven tion is for operating trellis or Bostwick gates, in which case one or more of the apparatus may be fitted to each gate.

lllany other applications of the principles of the invention may also be suggested. where it is required to convert a. rotary or oscillal ory movement about a centre into a movement in a straight or curved path.

In some instances two of the apparatus may be mounted with the joints between the primary and secondary arms acing one another, that is to say directed towards one another, in which instance a member connected to the extremities of the secondary arms may be caused to move constantly parallel to itselt.

\Vhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States of America is:

1. In a roller awning constrimtirm. a lever linkwork apparatus con'mrisiue a primary arm mounted to turn on a suitable support. means for turning the primary arm about its pivot, means for supporting the primary arm in any adjusted position, a secondary arm pivoted to the primary arm at a desired discooperative.

connection gearing arranged at the pivotal .,.r.. eeiy connected to. Uni

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primary and secondary arms, and means {or actnati up; the said nearing to cause the secondary arm to move about its pivotal. connection with the primary arm for the purposes set forth.

ln :1 roller avrninp; construction, a lever linluvorh api mratus comprising a primary arm mounted to turn on a suitable support, means lor iorningvthe primary arm about its pivot, toggle linlzs, the extremity lot one i l? which in adapted to move about a 's, their i e end o i the other toggle linl: e u: pivoted to the rimary arm a (lei-sired distance from tl'e p thereof, a secondary arm pivoted to the p uuinfy arm on the same I pivotal art's as the 'tog cglelii'ali connectioi'i, cooperative hearing ltvsaled at the pivotal connectionbetween and opei. ely connected to, the primary and secondary arms, means for i f ne the said gearing to cause the secondar arm move :ihont its pivotal connection with the primary arn'i, andn'unurs "for eausi r e the tong inks to he ch or opened 1:ynchronously with the'inoven'ients oi the swomlary arn'i about i'l1:-:' ')i\ot tor the purposes int 'lorth.

1'). in a roller awning construction, a lever linlcimrk a 'i aratus coniprisii'ig a priiiary arm mounted, to turn on a suitahle support, means tor turning the primary arm ahout its hivot, tile links, the extremity ot onelinh of which is adaptcd to move about a fined tries, the free end of the other toggle link wine pi v il l to the m nary arm a desired lietance lroin the pivotthereofli secondary :n'm' 'iivi'ited to the prinuiry arm on the same pivota, his as the lia gle link eonnelitlon, cooperative gearing; locatedat-the pivotal connection between and. operatively connect ed to the primary and secondary arms, means tor actuatii'ig the said gearing to cause hoth the aecondmry arm to move about its pivotal coi'u'iection with the pr mary arm and the top 4l poi 4-. lo :1 roller awning construction, a lever linlnvorl; ap giaratus comprising; a primary arm mounted to turn on a siiitahle support, means for turning the prin'iary arm ahoutil's pivot, toggle links, the roren'iity of one hnl; oi? which is adapted to move about a lined axis, the free end of the other toggle link heing pivoted to the primary arm a desired. distance from the pivot thereof, a secondary arm pivoted to the rnfin'lary arm on the sai'ne pivotal axis as tire toggle link :oi'inection, cooperative gearing located at the pivotal connection between and opera-tively connected to the primary and secondary arms, means :ior actuating the said gearing to cause the secondary arm to move about its pivotal conncction with the primary arm, and gearing located at the pivotal joint between the toggle links an d cooperatively connected to the geararia it links to be closed oropened syning at the pivotal joint hetween the primary and secondary arms, all for the imrposes set forth. i

5. in a roller awning constructimi, a lever linlcwork apparatus comprising a primary arm mounted to turn on a snitahle support, means for turning the prinurry arm ahont its pivot, toggle links, the extremity of one link of 'Which adapted to more ahont a ixed $131M, the free end of toe other toggle link hemp," pivoted to the primary arm a desired distance from the pivot thereof, a secoi'ldary :irin pivoted to the prin'iary arm on the same pivotal 1 Hi5 as the l'oggrle link connection, eooperative gearing liiicatei'l at the pivotal connection hetweer and oporatively connected to, the primary and secondary arms, a suitably supported and carried driving shaft for actuating the said gearing to cause the sec ondary arn'i to move about its pivotal connection with the prin'iary arm, and means for causing the too' le links to be closed or opened synchronously with the movements of the secondary arm about its pivot for the purposes set forth. i

(3. ln a roller awning construction, a lever linlrwtukk appaatus comprising a primary arm mounted to turn on a suitable support, means -tor turning the p li'llttljy' arm about its pivot, toggle links, the extremity ofone link of which is adapted to move ahouta lived ar-tis, the free end of the other toggle linl; hei' 3 pivoted to the priniary arm a deiircd distance from the pivot thereof, a eecondary arm pivoted to thepriniary ari u enthe same pivotal axis as the toggle link connection, COOPQl'zIlilVG gearing; located it the pivotal. connection between and operativcl'y connected to, the primary and secondaryarms, a drivii'igg; sha'iiit carried by the primary arm for actuating said gear-inn, other gearing means operatively conneming;- the shaft to the exterior driving); means, to cause the secondary arm to more about its pivotal connection with the primary arm, and means tor :ausinn; the toggle" e to he closed or opened synchrmiously nth the movements of the secondary arm about its pivot for the purposes set forth. I y y p I 7. In a roller awning construction, a lever linkwork apparatus comprising a primary arm inoui'ited to turn on a suitahle support, means for turning the plll'l'lilly arm ahout its pivot, means for supporting: the primary arm in any adjusted position, a secondary arm pivoted to the primary arm at a desired distance from the pivot thereof, cooperative ,oycaring located at the pivotal connection be tween, and operatively connected to, the primary and secondary arn'is, and means carried hy the primary arm adapted to be rotated by the nuivements of the arm for actuating the said gearing to cause the secondary arm to move about its pivotal connection with the priinarv arm for the purposes set forth.

lllll llll 8. in a roller awning construction, a lever linkwork apparatus comprising a primary arm mounted to turn on a suitable support, means for turning the primary arm about its pivot, means for supporting the primary arm in any adjusted position, a secondary arm pivoted to the primary arm at a desired distance from the pivot thereof, cooperative gearing located at the pivotal connection between, and cooperatively connected to, the primary and secondary arms, means for actuating the said gearing to cause the secondary arm to move about its pivotal connection with the primary arm, a third arm pivotally connected to the secondary arm, and gearing be tween the second and third arms adapted to be operated by the previously mentioned gearoperating means to cause the third mentioned arm to be moved with respect to the second mentioned arm for the purposes set forth.

9. In a roller awning construction, a lever linkwork apparatus comprising a primary 'arm mounted to turn on a suitable support,

means for turning the primary arm about its pivot, toggle links, the extremity of one link of which is adapted to move about a fixed axis, the free end of the other toggle link being pivoted to the primary arm a desired distance from the pivot thereof, a secondary arm piw oted to the primary arm on the same pivotal axis as the toggle link connection, cooperative gearing including a sprocket wheel located at the pivotal connection between and operatively connected to the primary and secondary arms, a suitably supported and carried driving shaft for actuating the said gearing to cause the secondary arm to move about its pivotal connection with the primary arm, gearing including a sprocket wheel located at the pivotal joint bet-ween the toggle links, and a driving chain connecting the sprocket at the pivotal joint between the primary and secondary arms and the sprocket at the elbow joint between the toggle links, all for the purposes set forth.

10. In a roller awning construction, a lever linkwork apparatus comprising a primary arm mounted to turn on a suitable support, means for turning the primary arm about its pivot, toggle links, the extremity of one link of which is adapted to move about a fixed axis, the free end of the other toggle link being pivoted to the primary arm a desired distame from the pivot thereof, a secondary arm pivoted to the primary arm on the same pivotal axis as the toggle link connection, cooperative gearing including a sproelmt; wheel and a worm wheel located at the pivotal connection between and operatively connected to the primary and secondary arms, a suitably supported and carried driving shaft, av worm mounted on the shaft and engaging with the said worm wheel to (11150 the secondary arm to move about its pivotal connection with the primary arm, gearing including a sprocket wheel located at the pivotal joint; between the toggle links, and a driving chain connecting the sprocket at the pivotal. joint between the primary and secondary arms and the sprocket at the elbow joint between the toggle links all for the purposes set forth.

11. Apparatus of the class described, eomprising an arm having a primary member and a secondary member pivotally connected together, a supporting pivot for the upper end of the primary arm, a toggle jointed strut having a supporting pivot at? its lower end and connected at its upper end to the pivot between said primary and secoi'nlary members, means to raise and lower said arm and fold and unfold the primary and secondary members thereof and means to bend or straighten the strut, said bending and straightening means of the strut being connected to and artuated by the means for raising and lowering and folding and unfolding the primary and secondary members of said arm.

12. Apparatus comprising a pair of the arms and struts as claimed in claim 11, and including a common power shaft connecting the means for operating said arms.

13. Apparatus comprising a pair of the arms and struts as claimed in claim 11 incl nding also a supporting member for a blind or the like connecting the outer ends of the secondary members.

In witness whereof I atlix my signature. ALEXANDER GEMMELL MURDOCH. 

